Yearly, a great number of fitness lovers worldwide join marathons or running contests. People who have joined such events have already been running for some years. The main objective of these people is to have a healthy body and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Running has many benefits including elevating oxygen supply in the body and producing more endorphins that makes you feel better. Actually, many athletes claim feeling a runners high which is actually an endorphin rush in our brain. Nevertheless, the sport has downsides too such as knee pain running especially when practice becomes competitive. Alleviating knee pain running is one of the most sought out remedies that runners want. Generally, knee pain running begins when the cartilage under the kneecap has begun wearing away due to normal wear and tear. As a consequence, there is pain and inflammation which can really be debilitating. Usually, knee pain running is felt after years of jogging or running. The situation can further be worsened by heavy weight that adds extra load on the knees .
Probable causes of knee pain running are overpronation, weakness of the quadriceps, running on elevated surfaces, wrong footwear and too much training. Too much pronation occurs when the feet rotates too far inward thereby making the kneecap to twist sideways. In such instances, the quadriceps or group of muscles above the knees must be developed through resistance training. Running uphill or worse, downhill can really be bad for the knees causing knee pain running. A runner must also replace worn out shoes since this does not anymore provide protection and support to the feet. Choice of wrongs shoes that can be too flat or too arched can also be an issue. It is crucial to consider the shape and arch of your feet when selecting running shoes.
When knee pain running becomes chronic, the doctor suggests rests from running. Also, medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed which can be bought over-the-counter. In some cases, elevating one's feet is also beneficial as well as having a massage to treat the muscles. Doing some exercises like squats can develop the quadriceps and lessen knee pain running. Truly, knee pain running can be avoided as long as you exercise in moderation.
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Probable causes of knee pain running are overpronation, weakness of the quadriceps, running on elevated surfaces, wrong footwear and too much training. Too much pronation occurs when the feet rotates too far inward thereby making the kneecap to twist sideways. In such instances, the quadriceps or group of muscles above the knees must be developed through resistance training. Running uphill or worse, downhill can really be bad for the knees causing knee pain running. A runner must also replace worn out shoes since this does not anymore provide protection and support to the feet. Choice of wrongs shoes that can be too flat or too arched can also be an issue. It is crucial to consider the shape and arch of your feet when selecting running shoes.
When knee pain running becomes chronic, the doctor suggests rests from running. Also, medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed which can be bought over-the-counter. In some cases, elevating one's feet is also beneficial as well as having a massage to treat the muscles. Doing some exercises like squats can develop the quadriceps and lessen knee pain running. Truly, knee pain running can be avoided as long as you exercise in moderation.
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Commonly, elderly people complain of knee pain characterized by swelling, inflammation and stiffness of joints. Doctors immediately predict the probable cause as rheumatoid arthritis or even osteoarthritis.In some instances, even younger adults also suffer from knee pain because they overstrain their knees through different physical activities such as walking,climbing, hiking or running. While some people have knee pain due to accumulation of uric acid, obesity or simply genetics. However,majority of these complaints show that the pain is situated on the front of the knees which is easier to diagnose. When people suffer from back of knee pain , the cause may even be worse since most back of knee pain is caused by injury .
One of the most common cause of back of knee pain is Bakers Cyst. Often, Bakers cyst is manifested by the following symptoms -swelling about the size of a golf ball, difficulties in bending at the joint, pain and tenderness after physical activity, and a sensation of pressure that can be felt all the way into the calf muscle. In most cases,a popliteal cyst is the source of Bakers cyst. Young people are physically active and remain unaware that a torn cartilage meniscus has already happened. As for the elderly, arthritis can be a possible cause for popliteal cyst. Nevertheless, Bakers cyst is not the only cause of back of knee pain.The following list shows some probable causes of back of knee pain .
Biceps Femoris Tendinopathy this develops when the hamstring tendons are inflamed .
Biceps Femoris Avulsion Avulsion of the biceps femoris tendon, simply, the tendons are fully pulled away from the bone.
Deep Vein Thrombosis / DVT- This is a blood clot in the vein that commonly happens post-surgery.
Inflammation of hamstring tendons / tendinitis The hamstring tendons become inflamed when they are inserted into the knee.
Posterior cruciate ligament sprain This happens when the knee is bended backward in a wrong way. As a result the posterior cruciate ligament is injured due to hyperextension.
Rupture of hamstring tendons / tendon strain Rupture or incomplete rupture of one of the hamstring tendons at the back of the joint.
Popliteus injury The popliteus muscle is overstrained leading to pain at the back of the knee.
There are still other likely sources of back of knee pain but the most ideal approach for treatment is consulting a medical professional.
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One of the most common cause of back of knee pain is Bakers Cyst. Often, Bakers cyst is manifested by the following symptoms -swelling about the size of a golf ball, difficulties in bending at the joint, pain and tenderness after physical activity, and a sensation of pressure that can be felt all the way into the calf muscle. In most cases,a popliteal cyst is the source of Bakers cyst. Young people are physically active and remain unaware that a torn cartilage meniscus has already happened. As for the elderly, arthritis can be a possible cause for popliteal cyst. Nevertheless, Bakers cyst is not the only cause of back of knee pain.The following list shows some probable causes of back of knee pain .
Biceps Femoris Tendinopathy this develops when the hamstring tendons are inflamed .
Biceps Femoris Avulsion Avulsion of the biceps femoris tendon, simply, the tendons are fully pulled away from the bone.
Deep Vein Thrombosis / DVT- This is a blood clot in the vein that commonly happens post-surgery.
Inflammation of hamstring tendons / tendinitis The hamstring tendons become inflamed when they are inserted into the knee.
Posterior cruciate ligament sprain This happens when the knee is bended backward in a wrong way. As a result the posterior cruciate ligament is injured due to hyperextension.
Rupture of hamstring tendons / tendon strain Rupture or incomplete rupture of one of the hamstring tendons at the back of the joint.
Popliteus injury The popliteus muscle is overstrained leading to pain at the back of the knee.
There are still other likely sources of back of knee pain but the most ideal approach for treatment is consulting a medical professional.
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Every single day, millions of people all over the world are suffering from knee pain. A large majority of these population are older people affected by arthritis or osteoarthritis. In some cases, knee pain can be a result of by sports injury such as torn ligaments or muscles surrounding the knee joint. Typically, medical specialists prescribe some over the counter drugs for knee pain treatment. These medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS ) which can support full knee pain treatment.
The next procedure for knee pain treatment typically includes Physical Therapy so the area affected can be addressed well and developed thus preventing recurrence of painful knee condition. In many instances, therapy also includes massage, heat or cold treatment, elevation and some leg strengthening exercises.
Aside from physical therapy, knee pain treatment is accompanied by important recommendations such as activity limitations. Usually, certain movements aggravate the pain and delay the progress of knee pain treatment. The following activities must not be pursued until the knee has recovered from swelling and pain.
* Squatting
* Kneeling
* Twisting and pivoting
* Repetitive bending ( going up and down stairs)
* Jogging
* Aerobics, dancing
* Playing stop and go sports ( racquet sports like squash and badminton)
The most suitable exercise equipment for the knee should provide smooth motion of the knee, maximum toning of the front and back thigh muscles (quadriceps and hamstring muscles), very few jarring and impact to the joint, and the least possible bending motions to obtain toning. These activities are feasible substitute to the aforementioned above.
* Water aerobics * Swimming applying the crawl stroke * Cross country ski machines * Soft platform treadmill
Ice and elevation-Ice is very good in managing pain and swelling. Ice must be applied to the knee every 2 to 4 hours at least for 15 minutes particularly after workout. A pack of ice, frozen vegetables, or a frozen towel is enough. The swollen knee should be raised above the level of the heart while icing it.
Strengthening exercises-Knee pain treatment starts with gentle strengthening exercises. These exercises must be done without bending motions on the knee. The exercises must develop large muscle groups such as hamstrings and quadriceps which can lessen the load on the knees.
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The next procedure for knee pain treatment typically includes Physical Therapy so the area affected can be addressed well and developed thus preventing recurrence of painful knee condition. In many instances, therapy also includes massage, heat or cold treatment, elevation and some leg strengthening exercises.
Aside from physical therapy, knee pain treatment is accompanied by important recommendations such as activity limitations. Usually, certain movements aggravate the pain and delay the progress of knee pain treatment. The following activities must not be pursued until the knee has recovered from swelling and pain.
* Squatting
* Kneeling
* Twisting and pivoting
* Repetitive bending ( going up and down stairs)
* Jogging
* Aerobics, dancing
* Playing stop and go sports ( racquet sports like squash and badminton)
The most suitable exercise equipment for the knee should provide smooth motion of the knee, maximum toning of the front and back thigh muscles (quadriceps and hamstring muscles), very few jarring and impact to the joint, and the least possible bending motions to obtain toning. These activities are feasible substitute to the aforementioned above.
* Water aerobics * Swimming applying the crawl stroke * Cross country ski machines * Soft platform treadmill
Ice and elevation-Ice is very good in managing pain and swelling. Ice must be applied to the knee every 2 to 4 hours at least for 15 minutes particularly after workout. A pack of ice, frozen vegetables, or a frozen towel is enough. The swollen knee should be raised above the level of the heart while icing it.
Strengthening exercises-Knee pain treatment starts with gentle strengthening exercises. These exercises must be done without bending motions on the knee. The exercises must develop large muscle groups such as hamstrings and quadriceps which can lessen the load on the knees.
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Millions of people around the world are health buffs, as such, they usually get involved in several sports activities like running, basketball, soccer, tennis etc. Frequently, these people pursue their sports actively placing them at a higher risk to injury from overexertion. There are active individuals who practice dilligently for two hours a day because they are motivated. In some situations, fitness buffs do not properly warm up or do proper stretching to prepare their muscles. This leads to injury of the knee joints causing sharp knee pain. Even sedentary individuals can suffer from sharp knee pain once they slip or fall accidentally. In their case, lack of balance adds to being prone to accidental injuries. In most cases, sharp knee pain is a direct result from issues with the ligaments around the knee joints. For a better understanding of sharp knee pain, given below are some probable causes with an overview; however, this should not be substituted for professional medical advice .
Torn versus Damaged Ligament There are two possible sources of sharp knee pain, either damaged or torn ligament. The main difference lies in the ability of one condition to recover fully such as damaged ligament. Alternatively,torn ligament cannot be repaired yet by medical science so relief would only be the firsthand solution to this condition. The approach to treatment looks similar but a torn ligament often involves surgery .
Damaged Ligament is one major culprit behind sharp knee pain.Pain killers are often prescribed by doctors since patients cannot tolerate the sharp knee pain. A knee brace is often utilized to immobilize the knee and aid it in healing. The knee brace acts a support to the damaged ligament so the person can still move around with protection. Most of the time, the patient needs to raise the legs so the joints would not bear any load from the body. On the opposite torn ligament is a serious condition that produce extreme sharp knee pain. Treatment similar to damaged ligament can be applied but there may be a need for surgery. Regardless of the cause of sharp knee pain, an overweight person must shed pounds to ease recovery. Just remember, knees are important joints that we should not overstrain to prevent sharp knee pain.
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Torn versus Damaged Ligament There are two possible sources of sharp knee pain, either damaged or torn ligament. The main difference lies in the ability of one condition to recover fully such as damaged ligament. Alternatively,torn ligament cannot be repaired yet by medical science so relief would only be the firsthand solution to this condition. The approach to treatment looks similar but a torn ligament often involves surgery .
Damaged Ligament is one major culprit behind sharp knee pain.Pain killers are often prescribed by doctors since patients cannot tolerate the sharp knee pain. A knee brace is often utilized to immobilize the knee and aid it in healing. The knee brace acts a support to the damaged ligament so the person can still move around with protection. Most of the time, the patient needs to raise the legs so the joints would not bear any load from the body. On the opposite torn ligament is a serious condition that produce extreme sharp knee pain. Treatment similar to damaged ligament can be applied but there may be a need for surgery. Regardless of the cause of sharp knee pain, an overweight person must shed pounds to ease recovery. Just remember, knees are important joints that we should not overstrain to prevent sharp knee pain.
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Fairly recently,statistics about arthritis have been released by the U.S. showing that by 2030, one out of four Americans would suffer from arthritis. Truly ,this is worrisome since this means more people would be debilitated by arthritis knee pain. This also means that more people would become less productive since they have limited mobility. Moreover,more people would have an early retirement because arthritis knee pain prevents them from working.
One of the main cause of arthritis knee pain is no other than Osteoarthritis.Our knees have been subjected to normal wear and tear through years. Typically,knees have articular cartilage that smoothly flows within the joint which functions such as a shock absorber. On top of this, a synovial membrane produces fluid known as synovium helps protect the joints. Brought about by many factors, the articular cartilage can become thinner or wear out completely. The resulting condition is termed as osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that brings painful arthritis knee pain. Things can even get complicated as bones thicken and spurs develop. Arthritis knee pain in this case comes with swelling, inflammation stiffness of joints especially in the morning.
What causes osteoarthritis?
How arthritis knee pain develops in an individual is still a puzzle to some medical experts. Nevertheless, the following list includes possible causes of arthritis knee pain.
Past Injuries History of trauma to a particular joint elevates the associated risk osteoarthritis formation.
Heredity There are some people who inherit a faulty gene that should be responsible for building cartilage that makes them highly predisposed to osteoarthritis. Because of this, they are highly likely to suffer from arthritis knee pain.
Weight Typically, osteoarthritis is established in joints that bear weight like the knees and hip. A heavy person runs a higher risk of acquiring degenerative joint disease because of the additional load.
Overuse - Some people perform more walking, running or climbing because they are physically active. Individuals such as marathon runners can overstrain a joint after running for many years.
Crystal Deposits Food in high purine content can create uric acid crystals to accumulate in the joint resulting to osteoarthritis.
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One of the main cause of arthritis knee pain is no other than Osteoarthritis.Our knees have been subjected to normal wear and tear through years. Typically,knees have articular cartilage that smoothly flows within the joint which functions such as a shock absorber. On top of this, a synovial membrane produces fluid known as synovium helps protect the joints. Brought about by many factors, the articular cartilage can become thinner or wear out completely. The resulting condition is termed as osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that brings painful arthritis knee pain. Things can even get complicated as bones thicken and spurs develop. Arthritis knee pain in this case comes with swelling, inflammation stiffness of joints especially in the morning.
What causes osteoarthritis?
How arthritis knee pain develops in an individual is still a puzzle to some medical experts. Nevertheless, the following list includes possible causes of arthritis knee pain.
Past Injuries History of trauma to a particular joint elevates the associated risk osteoarthritis formation.
Heredity There are some people who inherit a faulty gene that should be responsible for building cartilage that makes them highly predisposed to osteoarthritis. Because of this, they are highly likely to suffer from arthritis knee pain.
Weight Typically, osteoarthritis is established in joints that bear weight like the knees and hip. A heavy person runs a higher risk of acquiring degenerative joint disease because of the additional load.
Overuse - Some people perform more walking, running or climbing because they are physically active. Individuals such as marathon runners can overstrain a joint after running for many years.
Crystal Deposits Food in high purine content can create uric acid crystals to accumulate in the joint resulting to osteoarthritis.
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Daily,people use their knees in different types of physical activities such as walking, climbing, running or even crawling. Knees are important joints of the body hinged by ligaments that support our mobility. However, there is also this probability that people overstrain their knees especially when they pursue sports such as running, sprinting , basketball and other racket sports. As years pass by and people grow older, the synovium fluid produced by the knee decreases leading to knee pain and swelling. In some cases, sports related injuries related to the anterior cruciate ligament can result to knee pain and swelling too. Actually, there are many possible causes of knee pain and swelling so it would really be better to consult a doctor in the first place. Nevertheless, here's a brief overview of some approach to knee pain and swelling that can help you prepare yourself beforehand. The following guideline is taken from the University of Michigan Health System .
Various tests done to diagnose knee pain and swelling. Typically, physicians require a complete medical history of the patient as well as complete physical check-up. Then, the succeeding laboratory tests are advised:
* Blood studies (e.g., complete blood count, sedimentation rate, fungal, tuberculosis, or bacterial cultures) * Synovial fluid analysis (e.g., cell count, crystals, fungal, tuberculosis, or bacterial cultures)
* X-ray
* Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
* Vascular studies
Pain management and Relief
Normally, topical treatments such as Ice or Capsaicin have been used for knee pain and swelling. For some time, Capsaicin ( the compound that makes peppers very hot ) is being used to relieve several ailments such as arthritis and osteoarthritis. The substance inhibits the release of a neurotransmitter responsible for causing swelling and pain. Topical treatments are often supplemented by oral medicines such as :
* Acetaminophen * Salicylates * Typical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs ) * Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors * Combination preparations (for example diclofenac sodium & misoprostol) * Alternative medicine such as glucosamine and chondroitin
knee pain and swelling can also be prevented by strengthening leg muscle groups such as hamstrings and quadriceps. In some instances, limitation of activity is recommended by doctors to fully heal knee pain and swelling. As suggested earlier, only a medical specialist can correctly diagnose knee pain and swelling so you can receive effective treatment.
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Various tests done to diagnose knee pain and swelling. Typically, physicians require a complete medical history of the patient as well as complete physical check-up. Then, the succeeding laboratory tests are advised:
* Blood studies (e.g., complete blood count, sedimentation rate, fungal, tuberculosis, or bacterial cultures) * Synovial fluid analysis (e.g., cell count, crystals, fungal, tuberculosis, or bacterial cultures)
* X-ray
* Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
* Vascular studies
Pain management and Relief
Normally, topical treatments such as Ice or Capsaicin have been used for knee pain and swelling. For some time, Capsaicin ( the compound that makes peppers very hot ) is being used to relieve several ailments such as arthritis and osteoarthritis. The substance inhibits the release of a neurotransmitter responsible for causing swelling and pain. Topical treatments are often supplemented by oral medicines such as :
* Acetaminophen * Salicylates * Typical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs ) * Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors * Combination preparations (for example diclofenac sodium & misoprostol) * Alternative medicine such as glucosamine and chondroitin
knee pain and swelling can also be prevented by strengthening leg muscle groups such as hamstrings and quadriceps. In some instances, limitation of activity is recommended by doctors to fully heal knee pain and swelling. As suggested earlier, only a medical specialist can correctly diagnose knee pain and swelling so you can receive effective treatment.
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Pelvic pain symptoms are based on the underlying condition that causes it. Some of the main causes of pelvic pain could be problems of the reproductive system, formation of a scar tissue in the pelvic area after an infection or surgery, diseases of the urinary tract or bowel, and psychological trauma from physical or sexual abuse. This article will talk about a few of the most common conditions that cause pelvic pain symptoms and other characteristics that go together with them.
One condition that results in to pelvic pain symptoms among women is endemetriosis. It is characterized by a growth in the lining of the uterus outside of the uterus and it may link to other organs like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and intestines. This condition is called adenomyosis when the lining of the uterus grows in the uterus. One of its outcomes is pelvic pain symptoms especially during sexual intercourse and menstruation. The other symptoms are infertility, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, excessive bleeding during periods, and lower back and stomach pains during periods.
Another condition that causes pelvic pain symptoms among women is vulvodynia. This condition is marked by a stinging, burning, irritation, or sharp pain in the vulva, and also in the labia and the entrance to the vagina. The sensation may be recurring, constant, or occurs only when the vulva is touched. The pain persists for at least three months. The affected individual may suffer when pressure is applied to the vulva for a lengthy period of time, like during sexual intercourse, horseback riding, upon inserting tampons, sitting, or biking. This condition results in to depression as well.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that results in to pelvic pain symptoms among both men and women. The main cause of this condition is not known and it can only be diagnosed when other probable conditions have been eliminated. Some of the symptoms that accompany it are urgency for bowel movements, feeling of incomplete evacuation, bloating or abdominal distention, diarrhea or constipation. It is also common for people with irritable bowel syndrome to have gastroesophageal reflux, symptoms relating to the genitourinary system, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, headache, backache, and psychological disorders like anxiety or depression.
One condition that results in to pelvic pain symptoms among women is endemetriosis. It is characterized by a growth in the lining of the uterus outside of the uterus and it may link to other organs like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and intestines. This condition is called adenomyosis when the lining of the uterus grows in the uterus. One of its outcomes is pelvic pain symptoms especially during sexual intercourse and menstruation. The other symptoms are infertility, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, excessive bleeding during periods, and lower back and stomach pains during periods.
Another condition that causes pelvic pain symptoms among women is vulvodynia. This condition is marked by a stinging, burning, irritation, or sharp pain in the vulva, and also in the labia and the entrance to the vagina. The sensation may be recurring, constant, or occurs only when the vulva is touched. The pain persists for at least three months. The affected individual may suffer when pressure is applied to the vulva for a lengthy period of time, like during sexual intercourse, horseback riding, upon inserting tampons, sitting, or biking. This condition results in to depression as well.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that results in to pelvic pain symptoms among both men and women. The main cause of this condition is not known and it can only be diagnosed when other probable conditions have been eliminated. Some of the symptoms that accompany it are urgency for bowel movements, feeling of incomplete evacuation, bloating or abdominal distention, diarrhea or constipation. It is also common for people with irritable bowel syndrome to have gastroesophageal reflux, symptoms relating to the genitourinary system, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, headache, backache, and psychological disorders like anxiety or depression.
Lower left pelvic pain is a symptom of a disease that is more frequently felt by the elderly and women. The lower left pelvic region contains a lot of body organs that may be causing this sensation. The organs that are found in this region include the muscles and skins covering the left side of the abdominal wall, nerves on the left abdomen, part of large blood vessels like the aorta and its branches, the left ovary and tube, part of the urinary bladder, the sigmoid colon, part of the descending large bowel, the left ureter, and the lower end of the left kidney. Therefore any conditions involving these body parts may result in to lower left pelvic pain and this article will discuss a few of them.
Trapped wind is a condition wherein there is a presence of excess wind in the large bowel or the stomach. It is caused by a variety of factors such as swallowed air, gas produced by bacteria from fermentation of indigestible food, a by-product gas from the reaction of acid and alkaline, and gas released from the blood into the gut. If the trapped wind is located in the large bowel, the condition will induce lower left pelvic pain.
One more probable cause of lower left pelvic pain is ovarian cyst. The pain manifests when the cyst is twisted or has ruptured. Its major symptom is a sudden pain that may transfer to the thighs as well. Some people may mistake it for appendicitis but the pain in this condition is more sudden, is not accompanied with fever, does not affect the appetite, and the person affected may be rolling in pain.
The last example of a condition that may cause lower left pelvic pain is transverse colon volvulus. This condition is characterized by the twisting of the transverse colon on itself. This condition may result in to intestinal obstruction hence it is deadly. Some of the leading causes of transverse colon volvulus are excessive high fiber diet, Clostridium Difficile Pseudomembraneous colitis, Crohn's disease, tumor or cancer at the colon, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen causing the liver to float, previous gastric or abdominal surgery, presence of congenital bands due to abnormal rotations from birth, and chronic constipation.
Trapped wind is a condition wherein there is a presence of excess wind in the large bowel or the stomach. It is caused by a variety of factors such as swallowed air, gas produced by bacteria from fermentation of indigestible food, a by-product gas from the reaction of acid and alkaline, and gas released from the blood into the gut. If the trapped wind is located in the large bowel, the condition will induce lower left pelvic pain.
One more probable cause of lower left pelvic pain is ovarian cyst. The pain manifests when the cyst is twisted or has ruptured. Its major symptom is a sudden pain that may transfer to the thighs as well. Some people may mistake it for appendicitis but the pain in this condition is more sudden, is not accompanied with fever, does not affect the appetite, and the person affected may be rolling in pain.
The last example of a condition that may cause lower left pelvic pain is transverse colon volvulus. This condition is characterized by the twisting of the transverse colon on itself. This condition may result in to intestinal obstruction hence it is deadly. Some of the leading causes of transverse colon volvulus are excessive high fiber diet, Clostridium Difficile Pseudomembraneous colitis, Crohn's disease, tumor or cancer at the colon, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen causing the liver to float, previous gastric or abdominal surgery, presence of congenital bands due to abnormal rotations from birth, and chronic constipation.
Pelvic pain in pregnancy, which is also referred to as pelvic athropathy, is a condition that pregnant women typically suffer from, which starts early in pregnancy and lasting after delivery. Pelvic pain in pregnancy can be too much for some women that their movement is severely limited and they have great difficulties walking. This is a result of the changes in the woman�s body which prepares the pelvic girdle for childbirth.
There are a few symptoms of pelvic pain in pregnancy. The pain that the woman experiences are usually focused upon the groin and the pubic region. The woman may experience grinding or clicking in the pubic area and the pain may go down inside the thighs or between the legs. The pain may also increase when separating the legs, moving around in bed, walking, or going up and down the stairs.
Pelvic pain in pregnancy may be explained from the hormones that are produced in pregnancy that causes the cartilage of the joints to become softer. Under normal circumstances, the bones are jointed in away to prevent movement. However, because of the changes in the woman�s body due to pregnancy, the bones can now move freely. The movement as well as the displacement of the bones is the main cause of the pelvic pain that is experienced by the woman. . This also causes lower backache for the pregnant woman.
Pelvic pain in pregnancy can be very intense for some women but there are a couple of things that she can do to help alleviate the pain. One of the things that she can do is move little and often as possible. Moving for extended period of time is not advisable as it may add to the pain that is experienced by the woman. The woman must also avoid heavy lifting or pushing as it can make the condition worse. When sitting, the pregnant women must sit upright in an ergonomic chair that has good lumbar support. Hot compress may also work in easing the pelvic pain in pregnancy. Pregnant woman may also try utilizing walking stick to help reduce the pressure when walking, or wear prenatal belt or girdle for additional hip support.
There are a few symptoms of pelvic pain in pregnancy. The pain that the woman experiences are usually focused upon the groin and the pubic region. The woman may experience grinding or clicking in the pubic area and the pain may go down inside the thighs or between the legs. The pain may also increase when separating the legs, moving around in bed, walking, or going up and down the stairs.
Pelvic pain in pregnancy may be explained from the hormones that are produced in pregnancy that causes the cartilage of the joints to become softer. Under normal circumstances, the bones are jointed in away to prevent movement. However, because of the changes in the woman�s body due to pregnancy, the bones can now move freely. The movement as well as the displacement of the bones is the main cause of the pelvic pain that is experienced by the woman. . This also causes lower backache for the pregnant woman.
Pelvic pain in pregnancy can be very intense for some women but there are a couple of things that she can do to help alleviate the pain. One of the things that she can do is move little and often as possible. Moving for extended period of time is not advisable as it may add to the pain that is experienced by the woman. The woman must also avoid heavy lifting or pushing as it can make the condition worse. When sitting, the pregnant women must sit upright in an ergonomic chair that has good lumbar support. Hot compress may also work in easing the pelvic pain in pregnancy. Pregnant woman may also try utilizing walking stick to help reduce the pressure when walking, or wear prenatal belt or girdle for additional hip support.
Pelvic pain treatment may not be similar for each individual due to the numerous probable causes of this condition. Therefore in order to know the proper pelvic pain treatment for a patient, the doctor must first diagnose the underlying condition that causes pelvic pain. This article will discuss some of the procedures that are used in pelvic pain treatment.
Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the primary causes of this condition and the pelvic pain treatment that is employed for it is anti-inflammatory drugs. Anti-inflammatory drugs stop the body from producing prostaglandins during menstruation which in turn stops the uterus from contracting. Another pelvic pain treatment that is used for an underlying condition that is caused by hormones and menstruation is hormone therapy. Birth control pills are prescribed to the patient to help control the hormonal imbalance in the woman�s body.
One more typical pelvic pain treatment method is surgery. This pelvic pain treatment is advisable for patients who have a growth, cyst, or tumor that is causing the pain. Some of these particular conditions are uterine fibroid and endemetriosis. Some of the surgical procedures that are used for pelvic pain treatment are laparoscopy, hysterectomy, and myomectomy. Hysterectomy is the most invasive of these three procedures and it can also affect the woman�s ability to become pregnant, therefore it is often not the first option for treatment.
Medicines are also utilized in pelvic pain treatment. Antibiotics are utilized to treat pelvic infection that causes pain. Drugs are also utilized to treat sexually transmitted diseases, urinary track infections, and irritable bowel syndrome that also cause chronic pelvic pain. Pain relievers are also prescribed to patients to be ingested regularly and not just on the occurrence of pain to make the treatment more effective. Sometimes, chronic pelvic pain patients undergo depression as well and that is why tricyclic antidepressant medicine is prescribed to them as well, to help them deal with the pain and depression.
Furthermore, patients may also try out complementary pelvic pain treatment to help them cope up with the pain. Examples of these treatments include guided imagery, relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, acupuncture, counseling, and physical therapy.
Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the primary causes of this condition and the pelvic pain treatment that is employed for it is anti-inflammatory drugs. Anti-inflammatory drugs stop the body from producing prostaglandins during menstruation which in turn stops the uterus from contracting. Another pelvic pain treatment that is used for an underlying condition that is caused by hormones and menstruation is hormone therapy. Birth control pills are prescribed to the patient to help control the hormonal imbalance in the woman�s body.
One more typical pelvic pain treatment method is surgery. This pelvic pain treatment is advisable for patients who have a growth, cyst, or tumor that is causing the pain. Some of these particular conditions are uterine fibroid and endemetriosis. Some of the surgical procedures that are used for pelvic pain treatment are laparoscopy, hysterectomy, and myomectomy. Hysterectomy is the most invasive of these three procedures and it can also affect the woman�s ability to become pregnant, therefore it is often not the first option for treatment.
Medicines are also utilized in pelvic pain treatment. Antibiotics are utilized to treat pelvic infection that causes pain. Drugs are also utilized to treat sexually transmitted diseases, urinary track infections, and irritable bowel syndrome that also cause chronic pelvic pain. Pain relievers are also prescribed to patients to be ingested regularly and not just on the occurrence of pain to make the treatment more effective. Sometimes, chronic pelvic pain patients undergo depression as well and that is why tricyclic antidepressant medicine is prescribed to them as well, to help them deal with the pain and depression.
Furthermore, patients may also try out complementary pelvic pain treatment to help them cope up with the pain. Examples of these treatments include guided imagery, relaxation, biofeedback, hypnosis, acupuncture, counseling, and physical therapy.
There are several conditions that can bring about both pelvic pain and back pain. Organs that cause pelvic pain like the uterus, bladder, fallopian tubes, and cervix have nerves that are connected to the lumbar discs, ligaments, and muscles. Several neurologists think that the spinal cord mix up the pain signals when there is too much coming in, hence the brain of the individual experiencing it interpret it as both pelvic pain and back pain. This article will discuss a few conditions that can possibly cause both pelvic pain and back pain.
A condition that may result in to both pelvic pain and back pain is pelvic joint instability. This condition occurs during pregnancy or after childbirth. When a woman becomes pregnant, her body creates a hormone called relaxin which will loosen the usually immovable pelvic joint so that the baby can be delivered from inside the uterus. This condition severely restricts the woman�s movements as it makes it hard for her to walk. Women who have this condition are advised not to do heavy lifting or pushing, lunging, or climbing up stairs as they can make the pain worse.
Endemetriosis is also a possible condition that can bring about both pelvic pain and back pain. In this condition, the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus itself. The growth can attach to other organs like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, or intestines. These tissues do not get discarded during menstruation unlike when they in the uterus, which results in to a painful menstruation and sexual intercourse. Besides pelvic pain and back pain, the other symptoms of endemetriosis include premenstrual spotting, fever, headaches, painful defecation, bloating, diarrhea, long uncontrollable menstrual periods, chronic fatigue, and constipation.
A final example of a condition that can possibly cause both pelvic pain and back pain is kidney stones. Kidney stones are crystal aggregations produced in the kidneys from dissolved urinary by-products. When kidney stones become too big, they can obstruct the ureter and cause intense pain on a person. The other symptoms of kidney stones aside from pelvic pain and back pain are nausea, vomiting, bloody urine, pus in the urine, and reduced urinary volume.
A condition that may result in to both pelvic pain and back pain is pelvic joint instability. This condition occurs during pregnancy or after childbirth. When a woman becomes pregnant, her body creates a hormone called relaxin which will loosen the usually immovable pelvic joint so that the baby can be delivered from inside the uterus. This condition severely restricts the woman�s movements as it makes it hard for her to walk. Women who have this condition are advised not to do heavy lifting or pushing, lunging, or climbing up stairs as they can make the pain worse.
Endemetriosis is also a possible condition that can bring about both pelvic pain and back pain. In this condition, the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus itself. The growth can attach to other organs like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, or intestines. These tissues do not get discarded during menstruation unlike when they in the uterus, which results in to a painful menstruation and sexual intercourse. Besides pelvic pain and back pain, the other symptoms of endemetriosis include premenstrual spotting, fever, headaches, painful defecation, bloating, diarrhea, long uncontrollable menstrual periods, chronic fatigue, and constipation.
A final example of a condition that can possibly cause both pelvic pain and back pain is kidney stones. Kidney stones are crystal aggregations produced in the kidneys from dissolved urinary by-products. When kidney stones become too big, they can obstruct the ureter and cause intense pain on a person. The other symptoms of kidney stones aside from pelvic pain and back pain are nausea, vomiting, bloody urine, pus in the urine, and reduced urinary volume.
As anyone who has ever suffered acute or chronic pain is all too well aware, when you are in pain, you need to do something about managing it. And whilst we can all probably live with low-level pain even if it is constant, it is natural that your need to deal with pain increases the worse it gets.
There is no doubt whatsoever that in the West, when pain strikes, our first thought or reaction is to scamper off to the medicine cabinet to see whether we have any aspirins or paracetamol to address the problem with. After all, using analgesic drugs is convenient and quick for most of us when we have a headache or backache and want to do is get rid of it as effectively as possible.
However, as you now understand, analgesic drugs have the potential to cause adverse side effects, some of which might be mild but many are obviously not. In effect, every time you pop an aspirin or a paracetamol into your mouth, you are taking a risk and whilst there is no point in pretending that it is a major risk, it is nevertheless a chance that you are taking.
Rather than popping a pill when you’re suffering a short-term pain, try some of the herbs detailed in the last chapter or do something like going out for a long walk in the fresh air. Whilst this is not a particularly revolutionary painkilling theory, it is a fact that a long walk will often clear a tense headache, whilst muscle pain can often be relieved by getting those muscles moving once again.
Of course, if you suffer from chronic pain, then the solution that you are seeking is far more long term and permanent as well.
Whatever kind of pain you suffer from, it is possible to bring that pain under control by applying the natural pain management techniques.
By doing so, you may be able to reduce or even stop taking potentially harmful analgesic drugs, which in itself will bring significant health benefits and lifestyle improvements.
It never really makes sense to take potentially harmful chemicals when perfectly valid natural alternatives exist. As you have read, there are quite a few effective natural pain management techniques, so it clearly makes sense to start using them sooner rather than later.
External Resources to Read;
Natural Pain Management
Herbs for Pain Relief
Pain Management
There is no doubt whatsoever that in the West, when pain strikes, our first thought or reaction is to scamper off to the medicine cabinet to see whether we have any aspirins or paracetamol to address the problem with. After all, using analgesic drugs is convenient and quick for most of us when we have a headache or backache and want to do is get rid of it as effectively as possible.
However, as you now understand, analgesic drugs have the potential to cause adverse side effects, some of which might be mild but many are obviously not. In effect, every time you pop an aspirin or a paracetamol into your mouth, you are taking a risk and whilst there is no point in pretending that it is a major risk, it is nevertheless a chance that you are taking.
Rather than popping a pill when you’re suffering a short-term pain, try some of the herbs detailed in the last chapter or do something like going out for a long walk in the fresh air. Whilst this is not a particularly revolutionary painkilling theory, it is a fact that a long walk will often clear a tense headache, whilst muscle pain can often be relieved by getting those muscles moving once again.
Of course, if you suffer from chronic pain, then the solution that you are seeking is far more long term and permanent as well.
Whatever kind of pain you suffer from, it is possible to bring that pain under control by applying the natural pain management techniques.
By doing so, you may be able to reduce or even stop taking potentially harmful analgesic drugs, which in itself will bring significant health benefits and lifestyle improvements.
It never really makes sense to take potentially harmful chemicals when perfectly valid natural alternatives exist. As you have read, there are quite a few effective natural pain management techniques, so it clearly makes sense to start using them sooner rather than later.
External Resources to Read;
Natural Pain Management
Herbs for Pain Relief
Pain Management
One important consideration that your doctor will take into account before they prescribe pharmaceutical analgesics is the type of pain that you are suffering from.
They will take into account whether it is a chronic or acute pain and whether there is any underlying condition or situation that is causing the pain before deciding upon what medicine to give you. A similar situation will apply if you are buying over-the-counter painkillers well, because whilst paracetamol or Tylenol might be very effective for dealing with fever and the pain from and associated with a headache, aspirin will be far less effective for dealing with a fever problem.
Similar considerations apply when you are looking at natural pain management solutions as well because some solutions will work better in some pain management situations than they will in others. Furthermore, if you have a specific medical condition or situation that is causing pain, some natural pain management solutions are likely to be more appropriate than others.
As an example, the painkilling approach that you use to get rid of a headache or backache is likely to be significantly different to the approach that you adopt if you are trying to combat the pain caused by cancer or it’s treatment or the various aches and pains associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
Hence, many of the solutions that are going to be explained are likely to be more effective in certain circumstances or situations than in others.
You need to know what kind of pain it is that you need to combat before deciding upon the best way of using completely natural pain management strategies, tactics and ideas to minimize the adverse effects of your problems.
They will take into account whether it is a chronic or acute pain and whether there is any underlying condition or situation that is causing the pain before deciding upon what medicine to give you. A similar situation will apply if you are buying over-the-counter painkillers well, because whilst paracetamol or Tylenol might be very effective for dealing with fever and the pain from and associated with a headache, aspirin will be far less effective for dealing with a fever problem.
Similar considerations apply when you are looking at natural pain management solutions as well because some solutions will work better in some pain management situations than they will in others. Furthermore, if you have a specific medical condition or situation that is causing pain, some natural pain management solutions are likely to be more appropriate than others.
As an example, the painkilling approach that you use to get rid of a headache or backache is likely to be significantly different to the approach that you adopt if you are trying to combat the pain caused by cancer or it’s treatment or the various aches and pains associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
Hence, many of the solutions that are going to be explained are likely to be more effective in certain circumstances or situations than in others.
You need to know what kind of pain it is that you need to combat before deciding upon the best way of using completely natural pain management strategies, tactics and ideas to minimize the adverse effects of your problems.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin etc) and Naproxen (Aleve) are both NSAID’s like aspirin. They therefore share many of the potential side effects that have already been highlighted as been endemic to aspirin. For instance, aspirin allergy, upset stomach and a higher risk of asthma attacks can be equally ascribed to both of these medicines as they can to aspirin.
Ibuprofen however carries additional risks as it is believed to increase the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) if taken in high dosages and you can also cause or exacerbate irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis due to its capability of starting gastrointestinal bleeding.
With Naproxen, some of the most widely reported side-effects include constipation or diarrhea, drowsiness, upset stomach, stuffy nose and heartburn.
However, whilst the NSAID’s already detailed are likely to carry a slight increase in risk levels for heart attacks and strokes, the risk associated with Naproxen might be considerably more serious. Indeed, the National Institute of Health terminated a trial into the effects of Naproxen as a drug for reducing the severity of Alzheimer’s disease (in 2006) because of the suspicion that the drug significantly increased the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Since that time, further analysis suggests that at normal dosages, the increased risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke is fairly low although as you will see in the next section, this is certainly not true of all NSAID’s.
Ibuprofen however carries additional risks as it is believed to increase the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) if taken in high dosages and you can also cause or exacerbate irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis due to its capability of starting gastrointestinal bleeding.
With Naproxen, some of the most widely reported side-effects include constipation or diarrhea, drowsiness, upset stomach, stuffy nose and heartburn.
However, whilst the NSAID’s already detailed are likely to carry a slight increase in risk levels for heart attacks and strokes, the risk associated with Naproxen might be considerably more serious. Indeed, the National Institute of Health terminated a trial into the effects of Naproxen as a drug for reducing the severity of Alzheimer’s disease (in 2006) because of the suspicion that the drug significantly increased the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Since that time, further analysis suggests that at normal dosages, the increased risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke is fairly low although as you will see in the next section, this is certainly not true of all NSAID’s.
Aspirin is still one of the most widely used analgesic painkillers and as you can buy aspirin in almost any convenience store, it is a medicine that thousands of people all over the world use whenever they have a minor pain such as a headache or some other similar condition.
Technically speaking, aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (an NSAID) and was the first drug of its type to be discovered and isolated. For the vast majority of people, aspirin is a relatively safe medicine to take, although as previously suggested, it is a medicine to be avoided for people who are already taking other medicines with which it might interact.
In addition however, it is estimated that approximately 1% of people suffer from an aspirin allergy which is most commonly seen on the skin in the form of hives, rashes, and swellings. An aspirin allergy can bring on asthma attacks in people who already have a susceptibility to asthma, with an estimated 10% of asthma sufferers likely to suffer this form of allergic reaction to aspirin. This can extend as far as developing into anaphylaxis (a severe life-threatening allergic reaction) in a worst-case scenario.
Aspirin can also cause upset stomachs and diarrhea, as well as bleeding (both internal and external) and bruising as a result of its anticoagulant capabilities.
In a very small number of cases, aspirin can lead to Reye’s Syndrome which is a potentially fatal condition characterized by damage to many internal organs, especially the liver and the brain. Given the seriousness of this particular condition, early diagnosis of Reye’s Syndrome is absolutely essential because otherwise brain damage or death could be the result.
Reye’s syndrome passes through five distinct stages with the first being characterized by heavy vomiting that is not reversed by eating, general lethargy, nightmares and all-round confusion. If anyone who is taking aspirin exhibits any of these symptoms, it is absolutely critical to get them to a doctor or emergency hospital as quickly as possible.
Technically speaking, aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (an NSAID) and was the first drug of its type to be discovered and isolated. For the vast majority of people, aspirin is a relatively safe medicine to take, although as previously suggested, it is a medicine to be avoided for people who are already taking other medicines with which it might interact.
In addition however, it is estimated that approximately 1% of people suffer from an aspirin allergy which is most commonly seen on the skin in the form of hives, rashes, and swellings. An aspirin allergy can bring on asthma attacks in people who already have a susceptibility to asthma, with an estimated 10% of asthma sufferers likely to suffer this form of allergic reaction to aspirin. This can extend as far as developing into anaphylaxis (a severe life-threatening allergic reaction) in a worst-case scenario.
Aspirin can also cause upset stomachs and diarrhea, as well as bleeding (both internal and external) and bruising as a result of its anticoagulant capabilities.
In a very small number of cases, aspirin can lead to Reye’s Syndrome which is a potentially fatal condition characterized by damage to many internal organs, especially the liver and the brain. Given the seriousness of this particular condition, early diagnosis of Reye’s Syndrome is absolutely essential because otherwise brain damage or death could be the result.
Reye’s syndrome passes through five distinct stages with the first being characterized by heavy vomiting that is not reversed by eating, general lethargy, nightmares and all-round confusion. If anyone who is taking aspirin exhibits any of these symptoms, it is absolutely critical to get them to a doctor or emergency hospital as quickly as possible.
Paracetomol (and Tylenol) (acetaminophen) is widely used and generally available analgesic as well as being effective for reducing fever as well. For this reason, it is widely used as a treatment for headaches, fever and other minor aches and pains.
Paracetamol is technically known as an aniline analgesic and is the only one still widely used for the treatment of pain, because all other similar analgesics were withdrawn as they were believed to exhibit carcinogenic qualities (which so far, paracetamol does not). However, the fact that it is made from coal tar may give you a reason to question this as carbon is often believed to have carcinogenic qualities as well.
In normal doses, one of the advantages of paracetamol is that it does not irritate the stomach lining or affect blood coagulation in the same way that NSAID’s like aspirin do.
However, higher than recommended usage has been seen to have a potential connection with gastrointestinal bleeding and very high dosages have the capacity to cause liver damage, which in the most severe cases can be fatal. Indeed, paracetamol or tylenol poisoning is the number one cause of acute liver failure in most Western countries and the way that most people choose to commit suicide in these countries as well.
Furthermore, a massive study conducted in 31 countries and involving over 200,000 children in 2008 and reported in the leading medical journal ‘The Lancet’ found that the use of paracetamol in the first year of life made children far more likely to develop asthmatic symptoms at around age six or seven. In addition, children who took paracetamol during the first year of life and also children who took the drug at ages 6-7 demonstrated a far higher likelihood of developing eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis later too.
Paracetamol is technically known as an aniline analgesic and is the only one still widely used for the treatment of pain, because all other similar analgesics were withdrawn as they were believed to exhibit carcinogenic qualities (which so far, paracetamol does not). However, the fact that it is made from coal tar may give you a reason to question this as carbon is often believed to have carcinogenic qualities as well.
In normal doses, one of the advantages of paracetamol is that it does not irritate the stomach lining or affect blood coagulation in the same way that NSAID’s like aspirin do.
However, higher than recommended usage has been seen to have a potential connection with gastrointestinal bleeding and very high dosages have the capacity to cause liver damage, which in the most severe cases can be fatal. Indeed, paracetamol or tylenol poisoning is the number one cause of acute liver failure in most Western countries and the way that most people choose to commit suicide in these countries as well.
Furthermore, a massive study conducted in 31 countries and involving over 200,000 children in 2008 and reported in the leading medical journal ‘The Lancet’ found that the use of paracetamol in the first year of life made children far more likely to develop asthmatic symptoms at around age six or seven. In addition, children who took paracetamol during the first year of life and also children who took the drug at ages 6-7 demonstrated a far higher likelihood of developing eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis later too.
The word pain can be used in many different ways, so it is probably worth defining exactly we mean by the word pain in the context of this article.
Throughout this article, I am dealing with physical pain as opposed to the kind of general life-encompassing suffering that can make every day a misery. The type of pain we are talking about here does not for example include the kind of pain that you might suffer if you have no money or are homeless, emotional desperation brought on by family bereavement and so on.
As we have all felt physical pain from time to time, we all know what it is but finding an accurate definition is actually far harder than it might at first appear like it should be.
For example, whilst the International Association for the Study of Pain defines it as ‘an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage’, it is important to understand that pain is actually highly subjective.
What one person might consider an agonizing pain could be nothing more than a minor irritant to someone else, and people who suffer from chronic pain every day gradually forget about it to some degree even though the pain does not go away.
For this reason, it is sometimes suggested that the definition provided by a noted pain control expert Margo McCaffrey in 1968 might be viewed as more accurate. She said that ‘pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever he says it does’.
What is certainly indisputable is the fact that almost half of visits to doctors and medical practitioners in the USA every year are as a result of a pain problem that the patient wants solving.
When this happens, your doctor will usually do two things.
Firstly, they will try to characterize the pain itself using various different criteria or descriptions such as intensity, type of pain (throbbing, dull, burning etc), reason for the pain and bodily location.
After asking these questions, if there is no clear reason for the pain, they will examine you to find out why you are suffering the way you are as there is clearly some underlying reason for your pain of which you are not fully aware.
Generally speaking, pain will go away with simple treatments such as rest and of course through the use of painkilling analgesic medicines. However, we have already seen that many people suffer chronic pain, a pain that becomes a medical condition in itself and does not go away of its own accord or as a result of simple treatments.
Pain is an essential part of the body’s defense mechanism, a natural reflex reaction telling you to back off from something that has the potential to cause damage to you. Furthermore, it also help you to change your behavior so that whatever it was that caused you pain is not repeated, thereby protecting against further physical harm or damage.
Pain is a conscious sensation – sometimes we are too conscious of it, and it can strike anytime, anywhere, either as a result of a traumatic accident or because of the sudden or gradual onset of an unexpected medical problem.
Throughout this article, I am dealing with physical pain as opposed to the kind of general life-encompassing suffering that can make every day a misery. The type of pain we are talking about here does not for example include the kind of pain that you might suffer if you have no money or are homeless, emotional desperation brought on by family bereavement and so on.
As we have all felt physical pain from time to time, we all know what it is but finding an accurate definition is actually far harder than it might at first appear like it should be.
For example, whilst the International Association for the Study of Pain defines it as ‘an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage’, it is important to understand that pain is actually highly subjective.
What one person might consider an agonizing pain could be nothing more than a minor irritant to someone else, and people who suffer from chronic pain every day gradually forget about it to some degree even though the pain does not go away.
For this reason, it is sometimes suggested that the definition provided by a noted pain control expert Margo McCaffrey in 1968 might be viewed as more accurate. She said that ‘pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever he says it does’.
What is certainly indisputable is the fact that almost half of visits to doctors and medical practitioners in the USA every year are as a result of a pain problem that the patient wants solving.
When this happens, your doctor will usually do two things.
Firstly, they will try to characterize the pain itself using various different criteria or descriptions such as intensity, type of pain (throbbing, dull, burning etc), reason for the pain and bodily location.
After asking these questions, if there is no clear reason for the pain, they will examine you to find out why you are suffering the way you are as there is clearly some underlying reason for your pain of which you are not fully aware.
Generally speaking, pain will go away with simple treatments such as rest and of course through the use of painkilling analgesic medicines. However, we have already seen that many people suffer chronic pain, a pain that becomes a medical condition in itself and does not go away of its own accord or as a result of simple treatments.
Pain is an essential part of the body’s defense mechanism, a natural reflex reaction telling you to back off from something that has the potential to cause damage to you. Furthermore, it also help you to change your behavior so that whatever it was that caused you pain is not repeated, thereby protecting against further physical harm or damage.
Pain is a conscious sensation – sometimes we are too conscious of it, and it can strike anytime, anywhere, either as a result of a traumatic accident or because of the sudden or gradual onset of an unexpected medical problem.
Pain is a fact of life that many thousands of people all over the world live with every day of their lives. For many who are in chronic (long-term) pain, this means that it is something they have to live with every waking moment of every day, which is likely to make life very miserable indeed.
The fact is that all of us, probably every single individual on the face of planet earth is either already familiar with pain or will have episodes of pain at some point in our lives yet to materialize. Does this therefore mean that we have to accept pain as an inevitable fact of life?
The unfortunate answer to the question is probably yes because unless you live in a cotton-wool lined cocoon for every moment of every day, it is almost impossible to avoid the kind of accidents that inevitably cause pain and discomfort. However, in a situation like this, the pain is usually temporary and no matter how acute it might be at the time, it passes fairly quickly.
If you trap your finger in the door or smack yourself on the back of the hand with a hammer, yes, it hurts like the devil and the pain will be excruciatingly intense, of that there is no doubt. If you fall off your bike and crack your knee off the concrete, it hurts and even getting an unintentional kick or smack playing sports does not hurt any less because your opponent didn’t mean to cause you pain.
However, by definition, acute pain of this type usually passes and whilst trapping your finger in the door or falling off your bike can leave an injury that hurts for a few days, it is nevertheless still a relatively temporary pain situation that you are in. But these are also times when pain relief is something that you will probably seek, because the basic truth is that mankind in general is not very good at dealing with pain without some kind of external intervention.
If you have a finger or knee that is sore for several days, imagine how much worse it must be if you had to live with constant chronic pain, pain that nags at you each and every day of your life. If you are one of the fortunate ones who has never had to put up with long term pain, it is probably hard to imagine a situation where pain is a constant in your life but there are thousands of people for whom this represents their everyday reality.
Of course, over the course of the past 112 years since Felix Hoffman managed to produce a stable form of acetylsalicylic acid, better known as aspirin, man has developed many chemical-based painkillers that are used by millions all over the world each and every day.
Many of these drugs are pretty effective as painkillers but this does not change the fact that, as with all chemical-based pharmaceuticals, there are potential side effects attached to many of these drugs.
There are also quite significant numbers of people who cannot take these drugs too, people who are either allergic to them or are taking other medicines which prohibit them from taking particular types of painkillers. For example, for thousands of people all over the world who take a daily anticoagulant tablet like warfarin sodium or heparin, aspirin is a definite no-go as it too has the ability to thin the blood.
Thus, whilst not denying the effectiveness of painkilling drugs, there are a perhaps surprisingly large number of people who cannot use chemical-based painkillers. In addition, there are many thousands of people who do not want to use chemical-based analgesics (painkiller) because they understand that medical science is not perfect, and that whilst the majority of side effects of most commonly used painkillers are known, there may well be side effects that have not yet been discovered.
There are therefore a lot of people who are looking for natural ways of dealing with pain for one reason or another.
The fact is that all of us, probably every single individual on the face of planet earth is either already familiar with pain or will have episodes of pain at some point in our lives yet to materialize. Does this therefore mean that we have to accept pain as an inevitable fact of life?
The unfortunate answer to the question is probably yes because unless you live in a cotton-wool lined cocoon for every moment of every day, it is almost impossible to avoid the kind of accidents that inevitably cause pain and discomfort. However, in a situation like this, the pain is usually temporary and no matter how acute it might be at the time, it passes fairly quickly.
If you trap your finger in the door or smack yourself on the back of the hand with a hammer, yes, it hurts like the devil and the pain will be excruciatingly intense, of that there is no doubt. If you fall off your bike and crack your knee off the concrete, it hurts and even getting an unintentional kick or smack playing sports does not hurt any less because your opponent didn’t mean to cause you pain.
However, by definition, acute pain of this type usually passes and whilst trapping your finger in the door or falling off your bike can leave an injury that hurts for a few days, it is nevertheless still a relatively temporary pain situation that you are in. But these are also times when pain relief is something that you will probably seek, because the basic truth is that mankind in general is not very good at dealing with pain without some kind of external intervention.
If you have a finger or knee that is sore for several days, imagine how much worse it must be if you had to live with constant chronic pain, pain that nags at you each and every day of your life. If you are one of the fortunate ones who has never had to put up with long term pain, it is probably hard to imagine a situation where pain is a constant in your life but there are thousands of people for whom this represents their everyday reality.
Of course, over the course of the past 112 years since Felix Hoffman managed to produce a stable form of acetylsalicylic acid, better known as aspirin, man has developed many chemical-based painkillers that are used by millions all over the world each and every day.
Many of these drugs are pretty effective as painkillers but this does not change the fact that, as with all chemical-based pharmaceuticals, there are potential side effects attached to many of these drugs.
There are also quite significant numbers of people who cannot take these drugs too, people who are either allergic to them or are taking other medicines which prohibit them from taking particular types of painkillers. For example, for thousands of people all over the world who take a daily anticoagulant tablet like warfarin sodium or heparin, aspirin is a definite no-go as it too has the ability to thin the blood.
Thus, whilst not denying the effectiveness of painkilling drugs, there are a perhaps surprisingly large number of people who cannot use chemical-based painkillers. In addition, there are many thousands of people who do not want to use chemical-based analgesics (painkiller) because they understand that medical science is not perfect, and that whilst the majority of side effects of most commonly used painkillers are known, there may well be side effects that have not yet been discovered.
There are therefore a lot of people who are looking for natural ways of dealing with pain for one reason or another.